Fonds 92-008 - Hodgins - Wanapitei fonds

Stanley Hodgins was born in 1900 in Manitoba. He was raised in Stratford, Ontario and when he was old enough started to teach school near Kitchener, Ontario. Later he became a public school principal. He met Laura Belle Turel and they were married in 1926. Just before their marriage Laura Belle had graduated as a registered nurse from Hamilton General Hospital. They honeymooned on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park. Eventually they would take their two sons, Larry and Bruce on canoe trips. In 1943 Stanley became camp director at Camp Wabanaki near Honey Harbour in Georgian Bay. In 1956 they purchased Camp Wanapitei Limited, from Ed Archibald. In the purchase they acquired a chateau, a number of buildings, tent floors, an ice house, dining hall and canoes. The Camp opened under the directorship of the Hodgins. It was co-ed with boys and girls as well as men and women forming a group that would be community based and informal and relaxed. The ideals and beliefs of the Hodgins, which were part of Camp Wabanaki where the Hodgins were previous to Wanapitei, were brought in Wanapitei. A youth camp was offered as well as a spring season. Canoe tripping played a major role in the life of Camp Wanapitei. Eventually they expanded their canoe tripping to four week trips that took campers to Moosonee and Ottawa. As well there were numerous regattas every summer. In 1971 a cooperative company, called Camp Wanapitei Co-ed Camps Ltd., purchased the youth camp from Laura Belle and Stanley Hodgins. The Hodgins kept the Chateau and continued to operate it. The president, and camp director, of the new private Camp Wanapitei was Bruce Hodgins. In 1973 an adult tripping program was offered and organized by Bruce and Carol Hodgins. The youth camp offered woodcraft, swim instruction, sailing, crafts, canoe re-canvassing, square dances and special activities for the younger crowd. By this point in time the canoe tripping encompassed rivers and lakes in Northwestern Quebec and Northeastern Ontario. Trips were still going to the James and Hudson's Bay. The camp had also led trips down the Nahanni and Coppermine in the Northwest Territories and trips into Manitoba, British Columbia and New Brunswick. In 1989 Laura Belle Hodgins (nee Turel) died. In 1990 legal ownership of the Chateau was transferred to Bruce and Carol Hodgins and the Chateau property was transferred to Larry and Bruce Hodgins. Stanley Hodgins died in 1993. The dreams and ideals instilled, at Camp Wanapitei, under the Hodgins directorship continued with the younger Hodgins. The Canadian Studies program of Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, took trips to Wanapitei every September. In 1991 the Chateau received an official Heritage Building Designation. The trips and camping continue on into 1996 and the future.